Dear Editor,
On behalf of my family and myself, I hereby commiserate with the entire family of the Justice Prem Persaud of Prashad Nagar, Georgetown. I’ve known the Judge for in excess of 62 years, long before he travelled to England to pursue the legal profession. I recall our student days travelling on the train that left from Mahaicony at 5 a.m. to reach Georgetown at approximately 8:10 a.m. Students joined the train at that hour in order to reach the various secondary schools in Georgetown to pursue higher studies at the GCE and senior Cambridge levels as there were no other schools in the country side of note at that time. The train was the spinal cord of the body politic and social harmony that connected all the communities between Mahaicony on the East Coast of Demerara and Georgetown as we, the students, and other passengers met onboard; various passengers of all creed, race and culture on the train became friends.
On that train, some of our colleagues and friends included Justice (retd.) Donald Trotman, Dr. Barton Scotland, Dr. Harold Lutchman, the Parris twins from Buxton, Justice Prem Persaud and his brothers from the BV Station. At that time Prem, as I know him, was working at the Magistrate’s Court in Georgetown and so in the mornings we all met on the train. Mrs. Chandra Persaud was my classmate, as she, together with her brothers and sisters, attended the Indian Trust College in the 1950’s. I became very close to Chandra and her family, including her father, Uncle Pash, who was living at that time at Carmichael and Lamaha Streets, Georgetown. The building at Carmichael Street where they lived was built by Uncle Pash and it now houses the accounting firm of Barcellos and Narine.
It was Uncle Pash who created and developed the now prominent scheme known as ‘Prashad Nagar’ with great sacrifice, austerity and suffering at that time. Prem, in the late 1950’s, married to my classmate Chandra, whose wedding I had the honour of attending. Chandra bestowed the name “Big Jai” upon me, which was known throughout the schools. After Prem returned from England as a Barrister-at-Law he was soon made a Magistrate. I practiced before him in the year 1966 whilst he was a Magistrate in the East Demerara Magisterial District. On the bench he was very calm, charming and tolerant and gave great pleasure to the practitioners who appeared before him. I recall that as a Magistrate Prem would sit on the bench throughout the lunch hour with the consent of the members of the Bar present and we will work until 2 p.m. Thereafter, Prem would arrange for the entire Bar present and himself to have refreshments where our interaction generated into one of harmony, respect and real pleasure.
Sometimes at Mahaicony Court, we repaired to the home of Mr. Gonsalves, the host, who was then a prominent businessman at Mahaicony. At the Mahaica Court the same rituals took place, but the entire Bar will go with him by launch to No. 10 Mahaica Creek. At Sparendaam and Vigilance Courts we will go to the home of Attorney-at-Law Mr. Gadwah who lived then at Good Hope. Mr. Gadwah and Justice Prem Persaud grew up in the same village of Triumph, East Coast Demerara. The Magistrate ascended the bench of the High Court of the Supreme Court as a Judge in mid-80s.
His attitude, demeanor and cordial behaviour were the values and qualities of his heritage which he displayed on the bench. By virtue of his learning in the law, and outstanding decisions in the High Court, Prem was promoted and became a member of the Court of Appeal where his judgements became fine authorities that embellish the laws of Guyana.
Due to his fine qualities and fond and flagrant conduct, Prem was not spared retirement as his learning and experience attracted the Executive for him to discharge further service as Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). His siblings, Rip Persaud and Vidyanand Persaud S.C., together with his son Rishi, also pursued the legal profession so much so Rishi is now a distinguish member and Judge of the Court of Appeal. The name of Prem Persaud will never be forgotten and will remain a household name in our society. He who was born must die and the excellent good work Prem executed in his lifetime guarantees his heavenly peace and joy in the bosom of our Lord. To his wife, his distinguish family, children, siblings and progeny, I wish to express, on behalf of my family, our deepest sorrow and heartfelt sympathy on Prem’s passing so far away from home. He has fulfilled his duties and carried out his service with distinction that brought great honour and delight to them. May he rest in peace.
Sincerely,
J.T. Kissoon
